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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: season · can · mate · hide · mark · bank · spring · mug

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. mate — a partner
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mug — to rob
  5. can — a tin
  6. spring — of water
  7. mate — a friend
  8. bank — for money
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mate — to breed
  11. spring — the season
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mug — a cup
  14. spring — a coil
  15. mug — a face
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. bank — of a river
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. mark — a grade
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — in sport
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. can — a tin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com